LAUDERDALE LAKES — Authorities on Thursday released surveillance video of a hostile county bus passenger who threatened to punch the driver and hurled a small trash can at him.

The incident, being investigated as a battery case, occurred about 1:45 p.m. Nov. 29 on a Broward County Transit bus in the 5100 block of Oakland Park Boulevard in Lauderdale Lakes, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Investigators are seeking the public's help to identify the aggressive rider, who grew upset after he fed $4 into the bus payment machine, and the machine only accepted $3.

The rider told the driver, "I'm going to punch you in the face," prompting the driver to stop the bus and instruct the rider to exit.

The rider complied, but before stepping off, he grabbed a small trash can on the bus and threw it at the driver, striking him in the chest, according to the Sheriff's Office. The driver was unhurt.

Bus surveillance videos have helped the Sheriff's Office make arrests in other cases this year. The clarity of the videos, in addition to the public's help, proved beneficial, said Dani Moschella, a sheriff's spokeswoman.

"People watch these videos and want to help us identify criminals — and they do," she said. "There are cameras everywhere now."

Last week, a 19-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of throwing a missile into a vehicle and criminal mischief, after he allegedly cursed at a bus driver and hurled a rock to break the bus windshield near the Lauderhill Mall, authorities said.

After the Sheriff's Office released surveillance video of him, Demetrius Vidale's mother recognized her son and notified authorities, the Sheriff's Office said.